It was a bite mark that finally confirmed Ted Bundy as a murderer It was a handwritten note that gave away the identity of the Lindbergh baby kidnapper It was a tiny fibre that identified the mastermind behind the Antwerp Diamond Heist
No matter how meticulous criminals are in covering up their steps, they always leave some trace behind. Just when a crime seems unsolvable, the tiniest residue of a substance can turn the case on its head.
Thanks to the application of forensics, serial killers, kidnappers, thieves, fraudsters and terrorists have been brought to justice, while others wrongfully convicted have been exonerated.
This compendium of true-crime case studies covers some of the most fascinating crime scene investigations from around the world and throughout history. From the Green River Killer to the Oklahoma City Bomber, and from the Enron Scandal to the Hatton Garden Heist, the crime scene investigators left no stone unturned to uncover the shocking truth.
Similar to the other book I recently read by the same author, this felt a little limited in depth (a large number of cases covered in not much depth, 2-4 pages on each) but I did find this more interesting than 'Lady Killers'. Taken as an introduction to the wide role which forensic science has taken in crime investigations since its inception, there's plenty here to stimulate further reading. It's clearly presented and explanations are generally good.
I am however duty bound to only give this three stars however due to the ludicrousness of the sentence on the first page of the book "...Holmes would be astonished by some of the methods that forensic science now uses - there was no DNA in his day, let alone DNA testing...", which is an intolerable statement. DNA has only existed for 4+ billion years, so the author is only slightly off.
An interesting collection of true crime stories covering a wide area of subjects. Split up into 6 chapters/sub genres of crime, Jamie delves in to some of the most infamous crime stories from all over the world.
I throughly enjoyed this book, and I also loved the short chapters. Although the chapters are short, Jamie gets a lot of the information in. What I love about short chapters, is that the writer must focus on getting the most important details in, and Jamie has done well with this. He doesn't leave out any of the important information and has expertly siphoned critical facts together leaving you satisfied that you have a clear understanding of each story. I read this book in one sitting, and throughly enjoyed it. A must read for any true crime fan.